Texas Agencies Join Forces to Fight Child Abuse
In an effort to combat the injustices of child abuse and neglect, more than 20 agencies signed an agreement to work together on behalf of child victims. The ceremony, hosted by the Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) Children’s Advocacy Center (Texas), was held in December at CAFB offices. The Protocol/Working Agreement details the importance of the CAFB Children’s Advocacy Center and lists the responsibilities of each agency in working child abuse cases.
Agencies included in the agreement included are the Arcola Police Department; CAFB Children’s Advocacy Center; CAFB CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate™); Fort Bend County Attorney’s Office and District Attorney’s Office; Fort Bend Sheriff’s Office; Fort Bend County Women’s Center; Fort Bend ISD Police Department; Houston Area Women’s Center-Children’s Court Services Program; Houston Police Department; Katy ISD Police Department; Katy Police Department; Meadows Place Police Department; Missouri City Police Department; Needville Police Department; Oak Bend Hospital; Richmond Police Department; Rosenberg Police Department; Stafford Police Department; Sugar Land Police Department; Texas Department of Family and Protective Services; and The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is critical in the collaboration of agencies working to reduce the trauma to children going through the civil and criminal systems,” said Fiona Stephenson, CAC Program Director. “We bring together those agencies charged with the civil and criminal investigations of child abuse to ensure that the unique needs of abused children are being addressed in a child friendly manner. The CAC also ensures that children and non-offending caregivers receive additional services such as court advocacy, sexual assault exams, and therapy to assist in these investigations and the healing process. The Fort Bend community is very fortunate to have such a strong commitment from police chiefs and agency heads in fighting against child abuse.”
The CAFB Children’s Advocacy Center opened its doors in 1996. Since then, more than 4,500 children have received services. On average, in cooperation with 19 partner agencies, the CAC provides services to more than 60 children each month.
“We are most grateful for all of our partners who work very hard to make sure hundreds of children receive the services and treatment they deserve and that their perpetrators are held accountable,” said Susie Moseley, CAFB Executive Director.
For more information on CAFB programs (Children’s Advocacy Center and CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocate™), volunteer opportunities and other ways you can help children in crisis, call 281-341-9955 ext. 257 or log onto www.cafb.org. Winter Volunteer Training begins February 11.
Pictured back row l to r: Loretta Owens, Assistant District Attorney;
Oshea Spencer, Assistant District Attorney; Bud Childers, Fort Bend County Attorney; John Healey, Fort Bend County District Attorney; James Lebeck, Children’s Protective Services Program Director; Steven Griffith, Sugar Land Police Department Chief; Guiseppe Colasurdo, MD, University of Texas Medical School Chairman of Pediatrics; Gaye Dickerson, Katy Police Department Captain; Gary Cox, Sugar Land Police Department Captain; and Jorge Zambra, CFO, University of Texas Medical School. Front row l to r: Sherry Robinson, Assistant District Attorney; Ron Echols, Missouri City Police Department Chief; Robert Gracia, Rosenberg Police Department Chief; Della Holcomb, Fort Bend County Women’s Center; Dallis Warren, Rosenberg Police Department Assistant Chief; Pam Hobbs, Houston Area Women’s Center Children’s Court Services Program Manager; Sheela Lahoti, MD, University of Texas Medical School; Susie Moseley; CAFB Executive Director; Margaret McNeese, MD, University of Texas Medical School and Fiona Stephenson, CAFB CAC Program Director.